Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira
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FOR each kilometre covered by France-based Zimbabwean midfielder Marshal Munetsi in every Ligue 1 match for Reims, 100 Euros is donated to his charity.
Munetsi has extended his stay at Reims until June 2027, with the clause to raise funds for his charity included to sweeten the deal. His initial contract was set to expire in 2026.
Munetsi has been producing top performances for his side leading to rumours linking him to the likes of Burnley, Watford and Bournemouth.
The midfielder has played 29 Ligue 1 games in the 2022/23 season, scoring six goals and providing three assists.
“We added a new clause in his contract, a kind of mileage bonus. It was important to us to promote this type of personal initiative. It is customary to caricature football and the professional footballer as being disconnected from the world around him. Marshall, through his actions, helps to silence certain prejudices,” said Mathieu Lacour, the Reims director general.
He went on to say Reims’ move to secure Munetsi’s future was a “strong signal” of their plans to take the club to the next level after a successful season thus far.
“By managing to keep our major elements, we are entering a new phase of the project. We do not simply extend the player, but also the man.
“It may sound a bit cliché and that’s why it was important to follow the words with concrete actions,
Munetsi is in his fourth season at Stade Reims and has been turning heads with commanding midfield performances that have left him with six goals and three assists playing in central midfield.
Through this campaign, there has also been constant talk of a move to the English Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion and Bournemouth mentioned along with Burnley and Watford.
The 26-year-old has now been shortlisted for the Marc-Vivien Foe award.
This accolade is given to the best performing African in Ligue One — which has traditionally been pregnant with footballers from the continent.
The winner will be announced on May 30.
Munetsi played for FC Cape Town, Baroka, Orlando Pirates through the four years that he spent in South Africa.
He played 22 games at FC Cape Town under Craig Rosslee and Johnny Ferreira before being snapped up by Orlando Pirates who immediately sent him out on loan to Baroka where he played 32 games.
Upon his return to Pirates for the 2017/18 season, he featured in 14 games in the second-half of the season under Milutin Sredojevic then went up to 23 appearances for the next season before leaving for France in 2019. — @innocentskizoe
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